The government will construct over 600 new classrooms in coast region ahead of transition of learners from primary to junior secondary schools.
Coast Regional Director of Education Adan Roble confirmed that all the six counties will benefit from the new classrooms to support the primary to secondary school transition in the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC).
According to Roble, Kilifi County will get the lion share of the new classrooms (209) followed by Kwale (130), Taita Taveta (107), Mombasa (106), Tana River (33) and Lamu (32).
“The new classrooms will be constructed in 342 selected schools which is about 79 per cent of the total secondary schools in the region,” said the education officer.
Speaking to KNA in Mombasa, Roble said the Ministry recently conducted a sensitization programme for stakeholders before inviting tenders for the construction of classrooms.
He said in order to improve economic growth at the grassroots, local contractors will be given preference in the awarding of tenders. Some 11,600 classrooms are set to be constructed countywide.
At the same time, Roble said six cases of arson have been reported in at least six schools within Kilifi, Kwale and Taita Taveta Counties.
He said a recent meeting with parents and other stakeholders attributed the burning of dormitories to lack of activities, fear of exams, congestion, sneaking of mobile phones, boda boda stages outside learning institutions and kiosks which are suspected to be selling drugs to students.
Several public secondary schools have been burnt in various parts of the country with a number of students linked to the incidents arrested and arraigned in courts.
By Mohamed Hassan
